ICONS OF HOPE: Cheche Moral

CHECHE MORAL, Editor, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Lifestyle Section

My friend Anne went with me to all the checkups and consultations. Ironically, maybe two months before I got diagnosed, she was the one who had a breast cancer scare, and I went with her to her own checkups and biopsy procedure. I had never had a mammogram at the time, thinking I didn’t need it. I didn’t have the cancer gene, I thought. But only a few weeks later, I accidentally found the lump under my right breast. Then it was my turn to go through that roller-coaster ride.

I’m very independent, but I appreciated that presence, the knowledge that there are people who have your back, that you’re not alone. From the start, I wanted to spare my senior parents from the worry and stress of my illness, so my sister and I tried to make light of it; we shielded them as much as possible. Now we all know better, though I think it can’t be helped that they still worry knowing there’s no guarantee that the cancer won’t come back. That’s why I am vigilant when it comes to monitoring my health, so I don’t put them through that again.

When I fell ill, I had two coworkers, Alya and Steph, breast cancer survivors both, who were both invaluable sources of info, support and reassurance. Of course, I had the best doctors at Makati Med, who, until now, I depend on in monitoring my health. The constants during that cancer period were my super senior pugs Missy and Spike. They kept me company. Sadly, they died six months apart not long after I finished my treatment. Quite frankly, those losses were more devastating than going through cancer. Well-meaning people said, they died in your place. That was not comforting at all. As much as you want to survive your illness, you don’t want anybody dying in your place, especially not someone you love. But I am forever grateful to have had that whole month or so with them 24/7 as I underwent radiotherapy and took a leave from work. Quality time talaga. That’s how I want look at it, because that period was a blur, except for those days that I spent with them.

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Photos by: TJ Davocol and Necy Juat

Icons of Hope is a social media campaign that features cancer survivors who share their own stories, learnings and the lives they now live. It is part of ICANSEVE Foundation’s 25th anniversary celebration in collaboration with Camera Club of the Philippines. With thanks to Owen Santos and Zonia Bandoy.